Handovers held for Liao and Wu

By Ko Shu-ling / Staff reporter

Former Presidential Office secretary-general Liao Liou-yi, right, confers with President Ma Ying-jeou as outgoing Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) secretary-general King Pu-tsung, left, speaks during a handover ceremony at the Presidential Office yesterday morning. Liao replaced King in the KMT post.

Photo: Chang Chia-ming, Taipei Times

The Presidential Office and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) yesterday welcomed their new secretaries-general as former Presidential Office secretary-general Liao Liou-yi (廖了以) took up his new post in the KMT and was replaced by former Examination Yuan vice president Wu Jin-lin (伍錦霖).

Vice President Vincent Siew (蕭萬長), who presided over the handover ceremony at the Presidential Office in the morning, described Liao as a man who paid attention to detail.

Citing the example of an oil painting in the Rainbow Room, where the ceremony was held, Siew said the only reason it was on display again was because of Liao.

Shortly after Liao assumed the Presidential Office post last September, he became curious about a painting stored in the presidential warehouse in Sansia (三峽), New Taipei City (新北市). After discovering the damaged painting was a national treasure, Liao asked the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts to restore it and it was unveiled on Jan. 24. The painting had been a gift from an art association for then-president Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石) in 1960 to celebrate his third inauguration as president of the Republic of China.

Yesterday afternoon, President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) presented Liao with the Order of the Brilliant Star, first class, for his contributions to the country.

Siew praised Wu’s extensive political experience and management skills, adding that he had read a newspaper report that described Wu as someone “who does not make trouble.”

“I think he is someone who resolves trouble,” Siew said. “Wherever he is, the problems will be resolved.”

Wu said he hoped to work with the presidential staff under the principles of honesty, loyalty, efficiency and professionalism.

KMT secretary-general King Pu-tsung (金溥聰), who handed over his seal to Liao at KMT headquarters in the morning, said he was like a basketball player taking a break at the third quarter, who would return to play whenever the opportunity arose.

King also likened the KMT post to a relay race, saying he had done his best durng his stint and now it was Liao’s turn to carry the baton.

King resigned after leading the KMT to victory in last November’s special municipality elections. The KMT retained three mayoral seats, but lost the popular vote to the Democratic Progressive Party, which held onto two of the cities.

Liao vowed to commit himself to party reform, saying only through reform could the KMT have a “rebirth from fire.” He called for unity and sacrifice for the party when necessary.

Liao drew some laughs when he said King had called him yesterday morning and he thought King was going to tell him not to bother showing up at KMT headquarters to take over the new job.

Ma, who doubles as KMT chairman, said he hoped King and Liao would continue to dedicate themselves to serving the people and the party.

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